EC denials over Coughlan request

EUROPEAN Commission sources denied they had requested the Government to send Tánaiste Mary Coughlan as the next Irish Commissioner to Brussels.

Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has asked member states to nominate a woman if possible to ensure gender balance in the new team.

Suggestions that he is earmarking the Agriculture portfolio for an Irish nominee were also denied and the commission said he would not distribute jobs until he had the full list of people from member states.